I'm going to be honest, here. I'm just as bored with the Republican nomination race as everyone else is by now. The mainstream media pundits have done a mighty job of trying to keep the excitement alive, but it's just not working anymore.

One might also think that James would want to focus on local issues in Texas and not tie his public image to other politicians, particularly those from faraway states who haven't spent much time in Texas.

Many local political observers believe that Rick Perry's political capital in Texas has been seriously diminished by his dismal presidential campaign. Further, one generally doesn't introduce oneself to the voting public by talking about another politician.

There is a reason Huntsman hasn't yet experienced the surge enjoyed by his counterparts -- he's not seen as conservative enough by the Republican establishment. But in the primary game of musical chairs where anyone can surge, and, indeed, literally everyone has, it's officially become his turn.

I'm not ashamed to say that I'm a Jew. Heck, I'm even a rabbi. But you don't need to be in shul every Shabbos to know that there's something wrong in this country when gays can serve openly in the military but still can't marry each other legally.

I'm not exactly ready to say we've reached the end of the line for political gay-bashing in presidential election campaigns. But Rick Perry's widely-ridiculed "Strong" ad, in which he attacks the idea of gays serving openly in the military, surely shows we're getting there.